New BBC America Drama THE LIVING AND THE DEAD Announced

BBC America and BBC One announce new 6 X 60' drama series, The Living and the Dead, written by Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham, co-creators and writers of Life on Mars, Ashes To Ashes and Eternal Law. Ashley has also created dramas including Where The Heart Is, Wild At Heart and Moonfleet; Matthew's original dramas include The Last Train, POW and Walk Away and I Stumble. It is co-produced by BBC Wales Drama Production and BBC America in association with Monastic Productions for BBC One.

Somerset, England, 1888. A land and a community on the edge of monumental change, on the great hinge between ancient traditional ways and an industrial, scientific future. A land of ghosts and myths, poltergeists and demons - if there was ever a time for those ghosts to rise out of the ground, this would be that time. At the heart of this small community is Nathan Appleby, a reluctant gentleman farmer who is obsessed with proving the existence of the afterlife.

In the new original drama, this complex and compelling man will investigate hauntings, paranormal happenings, and ghostly visitations, encouraged by the Society for Psychical Research. But as these terrifying investigations become ever more frequent and ever more scary, Nathan starts to see and hear disturbing things that he simply cannot have imagined. Will Nathan's interest in the occult begin to threaten his family, his livelihood and even his sanity?

Writer-creators Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham says: "We are as excited about this show as anything since Life On Mars and Ashes to Ashes - we want it to be moving, tender, sensual...and very, very scary."

Richard De Croce, SVP Programming, BBC America adds, "We look forward to teaming up once again with Ashley Pharoah, Matthew Graham and our colleagues in the BBC on a drama that will haunt and thrill our Supernatural Saturday audience."

The executive producers are Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham for Monastic Productions, and Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, and Katie McAleese for BBC Wales Drama Production. It will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

It will shoot in the West Country of England next year and casting will be announced in due course.